No action, proceeding or matter of any kind whatsoever of a civil nature begun in any of the courts of this state or before any body, board or tribunal whatsoever at the time when the Revised Statutes shall become effective or at the time any act hereafter enacted shall become effective, by virtue, or under authority, of any act or part of any act repealed by the enactment of the Revised Statutes, or by any act hereafter enacted, shall be abated or discontinued because of such repeal; but the same may and shall be prosecuted to final judgment, decree or decision in accordance with the practice and procedure in force at the time when such action or proceeding was begun, except that where the course of practice or procedure for the enforcement of a right, or the prosecution of a suit, shall be changed, actions now pending, or hereafter begun shall be conducted as near as may be in accordance with such altered practice or procedure.